Before the Spanish arrived, the Aztec Empire was one of the most powerful civilizations the world had ever seen. It was also one of the most brutal. This book pulls back the curtain on the darker side of Aztec history. From the mass sacrifices atop the Great Temple of Tenochtitlan to the relentless wars of conquest that fed the empire's hunger for captives, the Aztecs built their world on blood and ambition in equal measure. You will discover how the Aztec rulers maintained control over millions through fear, religion, and military might. You will learn about the flower wars fought not to conquer territory but to capture prisoners for sacrifice. You will see how ordinary people lived in the shadow of a state that demanded everything, including their lives. The Dark History of the Aztec Empire does not sensationalize. It examines the archaeological record, the surviving codices, and the accounts of both Aztec and Spanish witnesses to build a clear picture of what this civilization actually was, not the romanticized version, not the purely villainized one either. If you have ever wondered how an empire that spanned millions of people could collapse in two years, this book has the answer. And it starts long before Cortes ever set foot on Mesoamerican soil.

Before the Spanish arrived, the Aztec Empire was one of the most powerful civilizations the world had ever seen. It was also one of the most brutal. This book pulls back the curtain on the darker side of Aztec history. From the mass sacrifices atop the Great Temple of Tenochtitlan to the relentless wars of conquest that fed the empire's hunger for captives, the Aztecs built their world on blood and ambition in equal measure. You will discover how the Aztec rulers maintained control over millions through fear, religion, and military might. You will learn about the flower wars fought not to conquer territory but to capture prisoners for sacrifice. You will see how ordinary people lived in the shadow of a state that demanded everything, including their lives. The Dark History of the Aztec Empire does not sensationalize. It examines the archaeological record, the surviving codices, and the accounts of both Aztec and Spanish witnesses to build a clear picture of what this civilization actually was, not the romanticized version, not the purely villainized one either. If you have ever wondered how an empire that spanned millions of people could collapse in two years, this book has the answer. And it starts long before Cortes ever set foot on Mesoamerican soil.

Before the Spanish arrived, the Aztec Empire was one of the most powerful civilizations the world had ever seen. It was also one of the most brutal. This book pulls back the curtain on the darker side of Aztec history. From the mass sacrifices atop the Great Temple of Tenochtitlan to the relentless wars of conquest that fed the empire's hunger for captives, the Aztecs built their world on blood and ambition in equal measure. You will discover how the Aztec rulers maintained control over millions through fear, religion, and military might. You will learn about the flower wars fought not to conquer territory but to capture prisoners for sacrifice. You will see how ordinary people lived in the shadow of a state that demanded everything, including their lives. The Dark History of the Aztec Empire does not sensationalize. It examines the archaeological record, the surviving codices, and the accounts of both Aztec and Spanish witnesses to build a clear picture of what this civilization actually was, not the romanticized version, not the purely villainized one either. If you have ever wondered how an empire that spanned millions of people could collapse in two years, this book has the answer. And it starts long before Cortes ever set foot on Mesoamerican soil.